Super-sub Mathieu Manset netted a quick-fire brace to rescue a point for Reading at home to Millwall on the opening day of the season as they drew 2-2.

A thunderous 25-yard strike past goalkeeper David Forde in the 85th minute gave Royals hope after Darius Henderson and John Marquis put the Lions 2-0 in front.

Brian McDermott’s side looked like they were on track for back-to-back season-opening defeats.

But Manset struck again with a deft header to nick point two minutes from time as Reading returned to Championship action after the play-off final.

Nine of the side who played in that Wembley defeat to Swansea City 68 days ago featured for Royals who were rampant in the first half.

Only centre-backs Matt Mills, now of Leicester City, and former loanee Zurab Khizanishvili were no longer part of the club - they were replaced by Alex Pearce and debutant Bongani Khumlo.

Royals controlled the opening stages of the game and they should have cemented their home advantage with at least one goal before half-time.

Republic of Ireland striker Noel Hunt raced through seconds after kick-off and forced a neat save from Millwall goalkeeper Forde with his legs.

Royals' high-tempo start showed no signs of fading as Jimmy Kebe could have, and perhaps should have opened the scoring two minutes later when Mikele Leigertwod picked him out at the far post - only to see the Mali magician screw his shot wide.

Millwall, not to be outdone, responded and Hamer Bouzza almost embarrassed Adam Federici when he drove the ball low and hard across goal in seventh minute with what looked like a cross come shot effort.

For most of the first half it was one way traffic in the direction of Lions keeper Forde.

However, for all of the possession and shots that Reading enjoyed, too many failed to test the keeper.

Jimmy Kebe twisted and turned past left-back Tony Craig at every given opportunity only to then be let down by his crossing as he took time to find his range and supply the ammunition that Hunt and Shane Long are so used to feeding off.

Two Ian Harte free-kicks failed to beat the steadfast Lions wall and it was that kind of finishing from the hosts that seemed to sum up the half.

Desperate to put their Wembley demons to bed, trigger-happy Royals just couldn't execute that telling pass or shot that warranted the goal they were looking for to cap off a dominant first 45 minutes.

Former Royals winger Henry had an obvious point to prove and he did exactly that just three minutes into the second half.

Henry picked out fellow ex-Royals player Darius Henderson and the un-marked poacher headed into the ground and past Federici for his third goal at the Mad Stad in his last two games.

Beaten in their last five away matches against Reading - Kenny Jackett’s side looked like they were going to inflict a painful lesson on McDermott's play-off finalists.

The Lions began the second-half the brighter and Henderson's clinical finish sent more than 2,000 Millwall fans in the South Stand into pandemonium.

Royals needed to hit back quickly and they almost did that when Long rattled Forde's crossbar with a thundering drive from 22-yards in the 53rd minute.

The 24-year-old continues to be linked with a move away from Madejski Stadium and straight after the game he jetted off to join his Republic of Ireland team-mates for their international game next week.

Strike partner Hunt missed an easier opportunity soon after when Kebe drilled the ball across the face of goal.

The 27-year-old threw his body at the ball, but had to watch it slip away and out for a goal-kick.

And then Millwall doubled their lead when Federici flapped at John Marquis' header in the 62nd minute.

Talented midfielder Liam Trotter supplied the cross from the right as Royals' good work in the first half was quickly undone.

Comeback-kings Reading then had to show their never-say-die spirit that they became famous for last season.

McDermott, never one to give up, threw on Manset and Hal Robson-Kanu for Hunt and Karacan in an attempt to change the game.

Captain Jobi McAnuff, now moved into central-midfield, struck the post with Forde well-beaten as it looked like it wasn’t going to be Royals’ day.

Then Kebe laid the ball on a plate for Manset to drive past Forde with a long-distance effort before supplying the cross for his second, a close-range header to seal the points.